Forthrightness

Hi Friends,

As I thought about what to caption my thoughts for this week, forthrightness is the word that came to mind. I checked it in the dictionary and it means being straight forward, explicit or direct.

I have been aware for a long time that most people can't stand the truth being told to them to their faces and for this reason other people respond by not being completely honest about their true feelings or thoughts. It's also not considered politically correct or polite to tell someone for example - that they aren't looking good because we don't want to hurt their feelings. When asked to do something for someone, even when it's not possible or convenient, we pretend that we would do it knowing fully well that it's not going to happen. Or sometimes we invent stories that really don't make sense but are plausible enough to placate our audience and not make them feel bad about our indirect rejection or refusal.

The above facts were reiterated to me recently. I don't blame the other party for the reasons stated above. It's just not normal practice. Unfortunately for me, that's not my way. I'm an open book. A close friend has mentioned and I think a few others probably think the same but for the same reasons stated above have never said it, that my writings are too personal and reveal too much. I don't know how to do otherwise. It's either I don't write, or I write openly. If a topic is too personal to be open about, I don't write about it all.

I tell it as it is or I don't talk at all. If I say I will do something, you can bet your bottom dollar I will break my back to do that very thing. Experience should have taught me otherwise, but perhaps some things are too ingrained. I'm reminding myself this week to always remember that not everyone is like me and to take people's actions and words in the light of paragraph 2 rather than the way I would act. Taking people at their words and expecting them to be forthright cost me a lot in time and energy which I would have preferred not to have wasted.

I won't write more than this simply because I am realistic enough to know I can't change something as ingrained as what I have described above. The lesson for me is to remember this in my dealings with people. Take people's words with a pinch, read between the lines and realize they are probably doing the same for me and let them know that doesn't apply to me. I'm also feeling a bit low emotionally so I really just want to stop here.

Have a great weekend and a wonderful work week. 

Blessings on you and yours,